Thursday, November 20, 1997
Win over Northridge bittersweet as seniors bid farewell to
Pauley
RECAP: Swift triumph marks final home game for Coleman, Milling,
Larkin
By Kyla Brooke
Daily Bruin Contributor
As the only three senior Bruins on the team stepped onto the
court for their final home game, Cal State Northridge seemed to
shrink back. And with good reason.
The Matadors were facing senior setter Kim Coleman, who leads
the conference and the nation in assists with a 15.18 per game
average. Coleman is also the fourth Bruin in history to surpass the
3,000 mark in career assists.
Coming at them hard from the right side was senior Kara Milling,
who is only the sixth Bruin in history to eclipse the 1,500 mark in
career kills and is currently second in the nation in kills per
game with a 5.7 average.
Coming at them from the left side was senior Tanisha Larkin, who
had nine kills on the night.
With determination and strong hitting, the No. 25 Bruins (7-9
Pac-10, 12-11 overall) sent unranked Northridge (6-10 Big Sky,
14-13 overall) back home with its third-straight loss. The Bruins
won in three sets – 15-2, 15-2, 15-8 – as the game lasted a
surprisingly short one hour and 25 minutes.
The game usually speaks for itself. UCLA had an average hitting
percentage of .308 compared to the Matadors’ .085, with the Bruins
pulling in 64 kills to Northridge’s 30. Not only did UCLA outplay
the Matadors on offense, but it outplayed them on defense, with 69
digs to Northridge’s 49.
But the real story of the day was that this was the last time
Coleman, Larkin and Milling would play in Pauley Pavilion. Each
senior came to UCLA from a different path, and each is going to
follow a different path as they leave, yet all three athletes hope
to continue playing volleyball.
"(I plan) on playing on the two-player beach tour. … (I’m)
going to team up either this spring or summer and hit the beach for
a year and see how it goes," Larkin said.
As she plans to move on, Larkin looks back and thinks, "I’ve
learned to be persistent. … If there’s one thing that being here
has taught me, it’s that if you work hard enough, good things will
come. (Playing under Coach Andy Banachowski helped teach) me that
even though you might have challenges, you can always become
victorious if you work hard."
As for her plans after graduation, setter Coleman says, "I’m
going to ride my horse and train horses. I’m also going to work
with handicapped people."
Along with these goals, Coleman sees volleyball in her
future.
"I just hope I can play on the beach circuit someday," Coleman
said. "No matter what, I’ll definitely stay active in volleyball,
even if it’s for fun."
When asked what she will remember most fondly about UCLA,
Coleman replied, "The people I’ve met and have been associated
with. The people here to help me are just so unbelievably
awesome."
Meanwhile, the one place Milling won’t be right after graduation
is the beach.
"Playing on the beach may be an option down the road, (but) this
summer I want to play with the national team," Milling said.
But wherever she ends up, she will remember the people that have
helped her along the way, especially Coach Banachowski.
"It’s been amazing," Milling said. "I just have so much respect
for him and the things I’ve learned from him."
Each senior brought to the team a mix of talents, and each will
take away different experiences, but winning their last home game
against Northridge will be a memory they will all share.
In upcoming games, the Bruins trek to the desert to take on
Arizona State on Nov. 21 and Arizona on Nov. 22.